The operator of three Monroe County golf courses says he's working to regain his reputation after an audit performed by the State Comptroller's Office.
It stated that the operator, Jack Tindale, "pocketed" $246,000 that should've been spent on improving courses.
Attorney for Tindale, Mike Wolford, says that's false, and the Comptroller responded to a request for a retraction by changing the word "pocket" to "retain."
He says there's no evidence Tindale pocketed the money, and Monroe County, in a letter to the Comptroller's Office, says the money in question was properly spent.
Wolford says they are considering some kind of legal action.
Tindale says his reputation has been tarnished, and it all came to a head when he overheard neighbors saying they heard that Tindale "had stole money"
Wolford argues Tindale has incurred heavy debt while trying to operate the courses consistently under the contract with the County.
He says it was a contract that was unsustainable.
Tindale says they tried to the best job they could, but play is down about 30 percent at golf courses nationwide.
Tindale's contract with the county expires December 31st.
A spokesman for the State Comptroller's Office issued the following statement:
"This audit was conducted by professional government auditors and followed strict auditing standards. The county failed to monitor this contract, and the golf courses and clubhouses were left in a deteriorated condition. During the course of the audit, we repeatedly requested information from the county, the subject of our audit, which was never provided. Some are trying to deflect from the serious findings of the audit."